Brunt of Nixon’s cuts fall on the frail and elderly
JEFFERSON CITY – Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder today issued the following statement regarding Gov. Jay Nixon’s withholds of $46 million in the state’s budget.
“It is troubling that Gov. Nixon has decided to cut funding for children, law enforcement, the mentally ill, the disabled and other needed programs,” Kinder said. “These $46 million in withholdings are unnecessary, given that the state has seven times that amount in a budget surplus.”
Kinder, who is the official Senior Advocate for the state of Missouri, said he’s particularly troubled by cuts that will undercut much-needed improvements in care for Missouri seniors. Those cuts include:
* $3,373,442 from nursing facilities;
* $2,852,9991 from in-home services providers;
* $666,667 from private duty nursing providers;
* $300,000 from naturally occurring retirement communities;
* $26,963 from the all-inclusive care for the elderly (PACE);
* $20,449 from home health providers.
“Once again, Jay Nixon is wrongly withholding funds from the state budget that will hurt some of Missouri’s most vulnerable residents,” Kinder added. “Sadly, these budget cuts aren’t even necessary. State revenue this year is up, and there is $325 million in unspent surplus that obviates the need for these cuts.”
